You are renovating a kitchen in a Queens attached home, replacing a boiler on Staten Island or having your Brooklyn brownstone painted. Strangers will be in your house for days, with tools, ladders and a lot of access. Many homeowners want cameras running while that happens. Some contractors, in turn, have their own cameras, such as body cameras or job-site cameras, to protect themselves against claims. Both sides have legitimate reasons, and both can step over a line. This guide explains how homeowners and contractors can use cameras fairly: tell people, keep cameras out of private spaces, leave audio off, protect valuables and put expectations in writing.
This is general information, not legal advice. Contracts and local rules vary. If you have a dispute with a contractor, ask an attorney.
1. The Short Version
| Topic | Guidance |
|---|---|
| Can I record workers in my home? | Video of work areas is common, but tell them first. |
| Should I disclose? | Yes. A written line in the contract is best. |
| Where must cameras not go? | Restrooms, changing areas and bedrooms where someone may undress. |
| Audio | Leave off. |
| Can contractors use their own cameras? | Some do. Agree on it in writing. |
| Best protection for valuables | Remove or lock them, then add cameras as a second layer. |
2. Why Homeowners Use Cameras During Work
Reasons include protecting jewelry, cash, electronics and documents, documenting progress or disputes about damage, seeing whether workers show up, keeping children and pets safe and keeping a record of who was in the house when something went missing. Most contractors are honest and professional, and many welcome cameras because they protect them from false claims. The point of a camera is a clear record, not an accusation.
3. Disclose in Writing
Put a sentence in the contract or a short email before the job starts: "The home has security cameras recording common areas and entrances for security. No cameras are in bathrooms or bedrooms, and audio is not recorded." Ask the contractor to acknowledge it. Tell subcontractors and crews as well, since the person who signed the contract is often not the one on site. Disclosure avoids the ugly situation where a worker discovers a camera on day three and feels spied on. It also supports your position if a dispute arises later.
4. Where Cameras May and May Not Go
Reasonable places. Entrances, the area where work is happening (kitchen, living room, basement), hallways, the driveway and the place where tools and materials are stored.
Do not record. Restrooms, bedrooms or areas where someone may undress, such as a shared bathroom the crew uses. New York's unlawful surveillance law, Penal Law section 250.45, addresses secret recording in private settings, and New Jersey has N.J.S.A. 2C:14-9. If workers use a bathroom in your home, keep it camera-free and make sure no camera can see in.
Think twice about. A camera in a family bedroom, a child's room or a home office with sensitive documents. If you want a camera there to protect valuables, remove the valuables if you can, and do not point it at a bed or changing area.
5. Audio Is Different
Recording conversations raises eavesdropping issues under Penal Law section 250.05 and New Jersey's wiretap statute. A camera that records audio in your living room will capture workers' phone calls, private conversations and your own. Most installers leave audio off by default. Do the same, and check your app settings, because some consumer cameras ship with audio recording turned on.
6. Employer Issues
If you run a business from home or employ workers directly, such as a nanny, housekeeper or home health aide, different rules may apply. Labor Law section 203-c restricts recording employees in restrooms, locker rooms and changing rooms; see nysenate.gov. Our guide on nanny cams and household employees covers that situation. A contractor who works for a company and comes to your house for a few days is typically in a different position, but disclosure is still the right approach.
7. Contractor Cameras
Some contractors use body cameras, phone video or job-site cameras to document conditions, protect against claims and show progress. They should tell you. If they want to record inside your home, ask what they record, whether audio is included, who can see it, how long it is kept and how it will be protected. You are entitled to ask, and a professional will answer. You can also agree on rules, such as no recording in private rooms and no sharing without your consent. Put it in the contract.
8. Protect Valuables First
Cameras show what happened, but they do not prevent loss. Before work begins:
- Remove jewelry, cash, small electronics and documents from work areas, or lock them in a safe or an area that is off limits.
- Photograph the condition of floors, walls and furniture before work begins.
- Cover and move furniture.
- Lock rooms that are not part of the job.
- Keep a list of who has keys or codes and change codes afterward.
- Use a smart lock with temporary codes where you can. See our guide on temporary codes for contractors and cleaners.
- Secure paperwork, devices and mail.
9. If Something Goes Missing
Stay calm. Check your records and ask the household. Review footage of the relevant time window with a second adult. Do not accuse anyone without evidence. Preserve the footage, take photos, and talk to the contractor privately and politely. If you believe a crime occurred, call the police and give them the footage. If it is a contract or damage dispute, ask an attorney before escalating. Never post accusations or clips online. Our guide on posting footage explains why.
10. News Context
Homes are targets, and workers and open doors can create openings. In February 2026, NYPD released stills and video from a Staten Island doorstep to help identify three young men who tried to enter three homes overnight, according to CBS News New York. In March 2026, News 12 reported video showing home break-ins blocks apart in Brooklyn. A house under renovation, with doors propped and scaffolding up, is a more tempting target for outsiders as well.
NYPD reported burglary down 19.5% citywide in May 2026 compared with May 2025 (NYPD).
11. Costs
Planning ranges in 2026 for professionally installed equipment: indoor camera with setup, $150 to $450; video doorbell, $150 to $550; four-camera home system, $1,600 to $3,600; smart lock with temporary codes, $250 to $900; a short-term "renovation kit" of two or three cameras installed for the duration of a project, $450 to $1,500. These are planning ranges, not quotes.
12. A Sample Plan
A homeowner in Brooklyn is renovating a ground-floor kitchen for six weeks. She adds a sentence about cameras to the contract, removes jewelry and documents, installs a video doorbell, one camera in the kitchen aimed at the work area and one in the hallway, with audio off, and sets a smart lock with temporary codes for the crew. The downstairs bathroom workers use has no camera. She photographs the rooms before work. When a tile goes missing, she reviews the clip with her contractor, who finds it had been moved to the garage. Estimated cost of the cameras and lock: $800 to $1,900.
13. Questions to Ask Your Installer
- Can you set up a temporary system for a renovation?
- Can you keep cameras out of bathrooms and bedrooms and leave audio off?
- Can I switch cameras on and off when I am home?
- Can you set up temporary lock codes for the crew?
- How do I save a clip if something goes missing?
- Can the system send alerts only when someone is in a specific zone?
See our local pages for security camera installation in Staten Island, indoor security cameras in Brooklyn, security camera installation in Queens and our services page.
Planning a renovation? Revolvis will walk the property with you and mark the spots.
14. A Note for Contractors
Contractors who want to protect themselves can take simple steps too. Photograph the site before and after each day, keep a log of who was on site, note any pre-existing damage and ask the homeowner to confirm in writing. If the homeowner has cameras, ask where they are and agree to stay out of private areas. Good communication and tidy records resolve most disputes before anyone reaches for a camera clip, and it makes you the kind of contractor customers recommend.
More From Revolvis
Cameras are one layer of a secure property. The same in-house crew also handles the rest:
- Keyless entry installation and smart lock installation
- Access control systems and commercial access control
- Video doorbells and intercoms
- Alarm system installation
- Complete unified security
Learn more about Revolvis, meet the team, see all services, browse the blog or contact us.
Areas We Serve
Revolvis installs residential and commercial camera systems across the New York metro area. Every borough and county has its own building stock, rules and wiring challenges, so the plan for a Queens two-family is not the plan for a Manhattan co-op.
- Staten Island: houses, detached garages and shop fronts. See security camera installation in Staten Island.
- Brooklyn: brownstones, row houses and storefronts. See security camera installation in Brooklyn.
- Queens: attached brick homes, two-families and busy commercial strips. See security camera installation in Queens.
- The Bronx: pre-war buildings, bodegas and warehouses. See security camera installation in the Bronx.
- Manhattan: co-ops, condos, offices and retail. See security camera installation in Manhattan.
- Long Island: Nassau County and Suffolk County.
- New Jersey: Jersey City, Newark, Hoboken and nearby towns.
The full list is on the service areas page.
Get a Custom Quote After a Site Visit
Revolvis prices every job after a site visit, because the building sets the cost as much as the equipment does. A few things make the estimate faster and more accurate:
- The address and property type: house, apartment, co-op, condo, storefront or warehouse.
- Which doors, sides and areas you want covered, and what worries you most.
- Photos of those spots and any spots where you already have cabling or power.
- How many days of footage you want to keep and whether you want to watch on your phone.
- Any landlord, board, lender or insurer requirement.
Call 347-258-9165 or use the contact page to book a site visit. The quote you receive is written and itemized, so you can compare it line by line.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I record contractors working in my home? Video of work areas is common practice. Tell them in writing and keep cameras out of bathrooms and private rooms.
Should I record audio? No. Eavesdropping laws can apply, and most installers leave audio off.
Can a contractor use a body camera in my house? Only if you agree. Ask what is recorded and how it is stored, and put it in the contract.
What should I do with valuables? Remove or lock them away before work begins. Cameras are a second layer.
What if something goes missing? Preserve the footage, review it calmly, talk to the contractor and call the police if you think a crime occurred.
Can I give workers a temporary door code? Yes, with a smart lock. Delete the code when the job ends.
Ready for a custom quote? Call Revolvis at 347-258-9165 for a site visit and a written, itemized estimate.
Safety note: A camera system supports, but does not replace, good locks, lighting, alarms and everyday habits. If you are in danger or witnessing a crime, call 911. Prices and legal summaries in this guide are general information for the New York metro area, not an offer or legal advice. A written quote after a site visit governs your actual price, and for legal questions you should confirm with the agencies linked in the article or a licensed attorney.